Photo/Illutration Visitors snap photos of female giant panda Lei Lei, who is scheduled to return to China in late January, at the Ueno Zoological Gardens in Tokyo on Dec. 16. (Tatsuo Kanai)

Hordes of fans are flocking to Ueno Zoo in Tokyo’s Taito Ward to bid farewell to twin giant pandas Xiao Xiao and Lei Lei, who will leave Japan in late January.

Crowds have increased since the zoo on Dec. 15 announced their departure.

On Dec. 17, the zoo cut off access to the line to see the pandas only 45 minutes after viewing hours began.

The maximum waiting time was five hours for Xiao Xiao and four-and-a-half hours for Lei Lei, the zoo said.

Further congestion is expected until the final viewing day for the two pandas scheduled for Jan. 25.

The number of daily visitors for each panda is limited to 4,800 until Dec. 21, and entry is based on arrival order.

However, reservations must be made on the park’s dedicated website to view the pandas from Dec. 23 to Jan. 12.

“We are truly grateful for everyone’s desire to support and see the two pandas,” said a zoo official, asking for understanding regarding restrictions due to safety and crowd control.

The official expects large crowds this weekend before the reservation system is introduced.

The reservation system will also be operated under a first come, first served basis.

Reservations can be made starting at noon one week before the desired viewing date. The time slots for Dec. 23 and 24 are already booked solid.

Viewers of the twins between Jan. 14 and Jan. 25 will be selected by lottery. Applications will be accepted through Ueno Zoo’s official website.

China leased the giant pandas to Japan as part of a joint research project for the conservation of the species. More than 30 pandas have been leased from China or born in Japan since it began.

However, given the currently strained relations between Japan and China, it is unclear whether the Tokyo metropolitan government’s request for two new pandas from China will be approved.

Xiao Xiao and Lei Lei became Japan’s last remaining pandas after four bears at Adventure World in Shirahama, Wakayama Prefecture, returned to China in June.

The twins were born at Ueno Zoo in 2021. Their parents, Ri Ri and Shin Shin, flew back to China in September last year. Their older sister, Xiang Xiang, was returned in February 2023.

Before the parents’ return, Ueno Zoo closed the crowded panda viewing lines almost immediately after the zoo opened on some weekends.

Reservations to see the twins can be made here: (https://www.asoview.com/channel/tickets/nCdDKUMcZ4/)

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